Electric lighting fixture



Jan. 19, 1943. D. .1. BILL-ER ELECTRIC LIGHTING FIXTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 29. 1941 Jam, 19, 1943. D. J. BILLER- ELECTRIC LIGHTING FIXTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 29, 1941 vllllflarllllt rlllflllllllll/Il/ll!!! Patented Jan. 19, 1943 ELECTRIC LIGHTING FIXTURE David J. Biller, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Day- Brite Lighting-Inc St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application December 29, 1941, Serial No. 424,725

15 Claims.

This invention relates to electric lighting fixtures, particularly lighting troughs for fluorescent lighting fixtures. The invention has for its principal objects to provide a lighting trough having a strong and rigid lightweight metal framework and readily attachable light transmitting panels for closing the openings in said framework, to provide quick detachable means for retaining the side panels in place in the framework and to provide for ventilating said trough. The invention consists in the lighting trough and in the construction, combinations and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification and wherein like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a lighting trough embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of said lighting trough,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical cross-section on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-section onv the line 44 in Fig. 2.,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-section on the line 5-5 in Fig. 2,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical central longitudinal section on the line B6 in Fig. 3,

Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal cross-section on the line 7-7 in Fig. 3,

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the lower middle rails of the metal framework of the lighting trough,

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a portion of one of the side rails of said framework,

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of the lower end portion of one of the lower middle rail supporting brackets of said framework.

Fig. 11 is an. inner face view of the portion of the bracket shown in Fig. 10; and

Fig. 12 is a vertical longitudinal section through the upper portion of one of the end panels of said lighting trough.

My lighting trough or channel comprises a metal framework including upper side rails A, end rails B connecting corresponding ends of said side rails, a pair of spaced parallel lower middle rails C, and hangers D depending from said end rails midway of said side rails and supporting the ends of said middle rails. Said lighting trough also comprises transversely bowed sheet plastic light transmitting side panels E that cover the spaces between the side rails A and the lower middle rails C, and molded plastic light transmitting end panels F for closing the ends of said trough.

As shown in the drawings, each of the side rails A of the framework of the lighting trough comprises 2. rolled metal section of substantially inverted U-shaped section with a plane inner side wall I having an outstanding lower marginal flange 2 and with a deeper outer side wall 3 that is longitudinally corrugated to provide longitudinal combined ornamental and stiffening ribs or beads l. Each of the end rails B preferably comprise metal angles arranged with one flange 5 down and with the other or top flange 6 projecting outwardly. The depending vertical flange 5 of each of the end rails B terminates at its ends in inturned vertical flanges or tabs 1 that seat edgewise on the inwardly extending lower marginal flange 2 of the side rails A and are rigidly secured flatwise to the inner faces of the inner side flanges I of said side rails preferably by means of rivets 8 that extend through both side walls thereof. Each of the lower middle rails C of the trough framework is of substantially channel-shaped section, with its web 9 arranged vertically and its flanges liland I l inclined upwardly and outwardly. The bottom flange ill of each bottom rail is curved upwardly adjacent to the web 9 thereof and terminates outwardly beyond the plane top flange H of said rail in an upwardly curled free marginal portion l2.

The hanger D, which depends from each end rail B, comprises a vertical channel arranged with its flanges I l facing outwardly and with its web It rigidly secured flatwise to the outer face of the depending inner flange 5 of said end rail pref erably by means of rivets I6. At its upper end, each channel-shaped hanger D abuts against the underside of the outstanding top flange 6 of the end rail 5 to which it is secured and has its web l5 bent horizontally outwardly beyond its side flanges I4 and rigidly secured flatwise to the underside of said top flange of said end rail preferably by means of a rivet l1.

At the lower end of each hanger D, the web l5 thereof has its middle portion bent to form an upwardly and outwardly inclined tab or flange l8 and its side portions bent inwardly to form spaced inwardly extending horizontal flanges or tabs Hi. The two inwardly extending flanges l9 at the lower ends of each hanger D extend into the adjacent ends of the channels of the respective bottom rails C and are rigidly secured preferably by rivets 20 flatwise to the upper surfaces of the bottom flanges [0 of said rails between the webs 9 thereof and the upturned outer side marginal portions l2 of said bottom flanges. As shown in the drawings, the top flanges I l of the bottom rails C have arcuate notches 2] formed therein above the flanges I9 that are secured thereto, so that access may be had to the securing rivets for said flanges.

The sheet plastic side panels E of the lighting trough are preformed by heating and have sufficient elastic resilience to recover their shape after deformation without the use of the supporting framework therefor. Said side panels have their upper outer margins disposed within the downwardly opening grooves in the side rails A and their lower inner marginal portions disposed within the channels of the lower middle rails C in edgewise abutting relation to the webs 9 there of. The sheet plastic side panels E are preferably mounted in the metal framework by inserting the upper marginal portions thereof in the downwardly opening grooves of the side rails A and by snapping the lower inner marginal portions thereof into the outwardly opening channels in the lower rails C after flexing said sheets.

Each of the rigid plastic end members or panels F of the lighting trough is substantially in the form of a hollow half-shell that is shaped to conform to the substantially segmental cross-sectional shape imparted to the trough by the curved sheet plastic side panels E and straight end rails B thereof.

panels F are arranged with their cavities 22 facing inwardly, and the sheet plastic side panels E have their end margins seated in said cavities in lapping relation to the walls therefor. plastic ends F flt over the end rails B of the framework of the lighting trough and are removably secured to the top flanges 6 of said rails by means of screws 23. lhe end rails B and. the hangers D depending therefrom are disposed in the cavity 22 of the plastic ends F; and said ends are further secured to the framework of the lighting trough by means of screws 24 that extend through openings provided therefor in the out- The molded plastic end The receive the upper edge of said slot when said tube is forced into the latter. Each of the plates also has feet or lugs 33 at its lower corners that extend outwardly on opposite side edges thereof and seat on the lower inner corners of the plastic sheet panels E just beyond the top flanges H of the lower middle rails C and clamp said corners down on the upwardly curled marginal edges I2 of the bottom flanges ID of said rails. As shown in the drawings, the upper corners of the side panels E are notched, as at 34, to clear the rivets 8 and the lugs 25 of the end panels F, the vertical edges of said notches abutting against said rivets and thus preventing end play of said side panels in the framework. The lower corners of the side panels are also notched, as at 35, to clear the lower ends of the hangers D.

The hereinbefore described lighting trough has numerous advantages. The metal framework is simple and economical and provides a strong and rigid support for the molded plastic ends and wardly extending flanges l8 at lower ends of said of the ornamental strengthening corrugations o-r ribs 4 in the outer walls of the side rails B. The

outer surfaces of the plastic ends F are also formed opposite the hangers D with central upwardly flaring ornamental ribs 26.

The flanges I8 and screws 24 are located directly back of the hangers D and access is had to said screws through vertical slots 21 in the webs l5 of said hangers. The slot 2? in each hanger D is covered by a quick attachable and detachable metal plate 28, which also serves to retain the lower margins of the plastic side panels E in the channel of the lower middle rails 0. Each of the combined cover and retainer plates 28 has a tongue 29 struck from the lower edges thereof that hooks over the lower edge of the vertical slot 21 in the hanger D; and each of said plates is also provided with a snap fastener in the form of a hollow outstanding tube 30 having a slit and rounded end 3| and an annular peripheral groove 32 inwardly of said end adapted to sheet plastic sides. The plastic ends may be quickly and easily secured to the ends of the frame; and the plastic side sheets are easily mounted in the framework merely by inserting the upper margins of said sheets in the grooves in the side rails, flexing said sheets and then snapping their lower margins into the channels in the lower rails. The sheet plastic sides are quickly and easily locked in place by hooking the tongues 29 of the plates 28 over the bottom edges of the slots 21 in the hangers D and then snapping the fasteners 38 into engagement with the upper edges of said slots. With the plates thus positioned, the feet 33 thereof bear on the lower corners of the plastic side panels and thus serve to clamp the same in the lower rails. At the same time, these plates also serve to cover the slots 21 and thus prevent light from shining through said slots and forming objectional bright spots on the plastic ends of the lighting trough, the ornamental ribs 26 on the plastic ends serving to diffuse the shadows cast thereon by the hangers D located opposite said ribs. The spaced lower middle rails C of the framework form a longitudinal slot at the bottom of the lighting trough, which slot provides for ventilation and allows insects to drop out of the trough.

Obviously, the hereinbefore lighting trough admits of considerable modification without departing fromthe invention. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the precise construction shown and described.

What I claim is:

1. An electric lighting trough comprising an open framework including longitudinally grooved side and middle rails, end rails connecting said side rails, and hangers depending from said end rails and supporting said middle rails below the level of said side rails, closures for the ends of said framework, said closures being supported by said end rails and hangers, and light transmitting side panels extending from end closure to end closure between said side and middle rails with their longitudinal side margins seated in the grooves therein.

2. An electric lighting trough comprising an open framework including side rails having downwardly opening longitudinal grooves therein, end rails connecting said side rails, a pair of spaced 7 middle rails, and hangers depending from said said closures being supported by said end rails and hangers, and light transmitting side panels extending from end closure to end closure between said side and middle rails with their longitudinal edges seated in the grooves therein.

3. An electric lighting trough comprising an open framework including longitudinally grooved side rails, end rails connecting said side rails, a longitudinally grooved middle rail, and hangers depending from said end rails midway of said side rails and supporting said middle rail below the level of said side rails, light transmitting end closures for said framework, said closures being secured to said end rails and hangers and having lugs extending into the ends of the grooves in said side rails, and light transmitting side panels extending from end closure to end closure between said side and middle rails with their longitudinal edges seated in the grooves therein.

4. An electric lighting trough comprising an open framework including longitudinally grooved side rails, end rails connecting said side rails, longitudinally grooved middle rails, and hangers depending from said end rails midway of the ends thereof and supporting said middle rails below the level of said side rails, light transmitting closures for the ends of said end framework, said closures being secured to and supported by said end rails and hangers, light transmitting side panels extending from end closure to end closure between said side and middle rails with their longitudinal edges seated in the grooves therein, and quick detachable devices engageable with said hangers and cooperating with said side panels for retaining the latter in the grooves in said middle rails.

5. An electric lighting trough comprising an open framework including side rails of substantially inverted U-shaped cross-section, end rails connecting said side rails, a pair of spaced parallel middle rails of substantially channel-shaped cross-section, and hangers depending from said end rails midway of the ends thereof and supporting said middle rails below the level of said side rails and arranged with their channels facing the direction of said side rails, closures for the ends of said end framework and recessed to receive said end rails and hangers, and light transmitting side panels extending from end closure to end closure between said side and middle rails with their longitudinal edges seated therein and with their ends seated in said recesses.

6. An electric lighting trough comprising an open framework including side rails of substantially inverted U-shaped cross-section, end rails connecting said side rails, a pair of spaced parallel middle rails of substantially channel-shaped cross-section, and hangers depending from said end rails midway of the ends thereof and supporting adjacent ends of said middle rails below the level of said side rails and arranged with their channels facing the direction of said side rails, light transmitting closures for the ends of said framework secured to said end rails and said hangers, light transmitting side panels extending from end closure to end closure between said side and middle rails with their longitudinal edges seated therein, and quick detachable devices located in said trough and engageable with said hangers and cooperating with the middle rail engaging portions of said side panels for retaining said portions therein.

7. An electric lighting trough comprising an open framework including side rails, end rails connecting said side rails, middle rails, and

hangers depending from said end rails midway of the ends thereof and supporting said middle rails below the level of said side rails, closures for the ends of said end framework secured'to said end rails and hangers and interlocked with said side rails, and light transmitting side panels extending longitudinally of said trough from end closure to end closure and crosswise of said trough from said side rails to said middle rail with their longitudinal side edges seated in said side and middle rails and with their ends seated in said end closures.

8. An electric lighting trough comprising an open framework including longitudinally grooved side rails, end rails connecting said side rails, and longitudinally grooved middle rail-s suspended from said end rails below the level of said side rails, closures for the ends of said framework, light transmitting side panels extending from end closure to end closure between said side and bottom rails with their longitudinal edges seated in the grooves therein, quick detachable devices lo cated in said trough and cooperating with said side panels for retaining the latter in the grooves in said middle rails, said 'end'closures comprising rigid molded plastic members and said side panels comprising sheets of plastic having sufiicient resiliency to enable said panels to be snapped into said longitudinal grooves of said rail, said middle rails being spaced apart to provide a longitudinal opening in the bottom of said trough.

9. An electric lighting trough comprising an open framework including longitudinal side rails, end rails connecting said side rails, hangers depending from said end rails midway of the length thereof and longitudinally grooved middle rails extending from hanger to hanger with their ends rigidly secured thereto, closures for the ends of said framework, means for securing said closures to said end rails and to the lower portions of said hangers, and side panels extending from end closure to end closure with their longitudinal margins seating in the grooves in said side and mid-- dle rails.

10. An electric lighting trough comprising an open framework including longitudinal side rails, end rails connecting said side rails, hangers depending from said end rails midway of the length thereof and a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally grooved middle rails extending from hanger to hanger with their ends rigidly secured thereto. closures for the ends of said framework, means for securing said closures to said end rails and to the lower portions of said hangers, and sheet plastic side panels extending from end closure to end closure with their longitudinal margins seating in the grooves in said side and bottom rails.

11. An electric lighting trough comprising an open framework including longitudinal side rails, end rails connecting said side rails, hangers depending from said end rails midway of the length thereof and a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally grooved middle rails extending from hanger to hanger, said hangers having inwardly extending tabs at their lower end extending into and secured within the grooves of said middle rails, closures for the ends of said framework, means for securing said closures to said end rails and to the lower portions of said hangers, and sheet plastic light transmitting side panels extending from end closure to end closure with their longitudinal margins seating in the grooves in said side and middle rails.

12. An electric lighting trough comprising an open framework including longitudinally grooved side rails, end rails connecting said side rails, hangers depending from said end rails midway of the length thereof and a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally grooved middle rails extending from hanger to hanger with their ends rigidly secured thereto, closures for the ends of said framework, means for securing said closures to said end rails and to the lower portions of said hangers, sheet plastic side panels extending from end closure to end closure with their longitudinal margins seating in the grooves in said side and middle rails, and retainer plates secured to said hangers and having portions that cooperate with said side panels for retaining the middle rail engaging portions of said side panels in said middle rails.

13. An electric lighting trough comprising an open framework including longitudinal side rails, end rails connecting said side rails, hangers depending from said end rails midway of the length thereof and a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally grooved middle rails extending from hanger to hanger with their ends rigid-1y secured. thereto, said hangers having outstanding flanges at their lower ends, closures for the ends of said framework, means for securing said closures to said end rails and to the flanges at the lower ends of said hangers, sheet plastic side panels extending from end closure to end closure with their longitudinal margins seating in the grooves in said side and bottom rails, said hangers having openings therethrough through which access may be had from the interiors of said trough to the means for securing said closures to said flanges, and plates secured to said hangers and covering said openings and cooperating with said side panels for retaining the middle rail engaging portions of said side panels in the grooves of said middle rails.

tudinally grooved middle rails extending from hanger to hanger with their ends rigidly secured thereto, said hangers having outstanding flanges at their lower ends, closures for the ends of said framework, means for securing said closures to said end rails and to the flanges at the lower ends of said hangers, sheet plastic side panels extending from end closure to end closure with their longitudinal margins seating in the grooves in said side and bottom rails, said hangers having openings therethrough through which access may be had from the interiors of said trough to the means for securing said closures to said flanges, and plates secured to said hangers and covering said openings and cooperating with said side panels for retaining the middle rail engaging portions of said side panels in the grooves of said middle rails, said middle rails comprising channels with bottom flanges that extend beyond their top flanges, and said plates cooperating with said side panels to clamp the same against said bottom flanges.

15. An electric lighting trough comprising an open framework including longitudinal side rails, end rails connecting said side rails, hangers depending from said end rails midway of the length thereof and a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally grooved middle rails extending from hanger to hanger with their ends rigidly secured thereto, said hangers having outstanding flanges at their lower ends, closures for the ends of said framework having ribs thereon opposite said hangers, means for securing said closures to the tops of said end rails and to the flanges at the lower ends of said hangers, sheet plastic side panels extending from end closure to end closure with their longitudinal margins seating in the grooves in said side and bottom rails, said hangers having openings therethrough through which access is had to the means for securing said closures to the flanges at the lower end of said hangers, and plates secured to said hangers and covering said openings, said plates having portions that hook over the bottom edges of said openings, portions that snap beneath the upper edges of said openings, and portions that cooperate with said side panels for retaining the middle rail engaging portions of said side panels in the grooves of said middle rails.

DAVID J. BILLER. 

